Art Centre: October 19-30, 2009

Central Technical School Art Centre:
Year Three: Weeks Seven and Eight
October 19-30, 2009

Art History: Week Seven

Vase of Flowers – Odilon Redon

Symbolism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_(arts)
Odilon Redon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odilon_Redon
Edvard Munch - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Munch

Alphonse Mucha – White Star

Art Nouveau - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_nouveau
Alphonse Mucha - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfons_Mucha
Gustav Klimt - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt

Art History: Week Eight

Red Maples - Lawren Harris

Group of Seven - http://www.groupofsevenart.com/
McMichael Canadian Group of Seven Collection - http://www.mcmichael.com/collection/seven/index.cfm
Wikipedia: Group of Seven - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_Seven_(artists)
Virtual Museum Gallery: Group of Seven - http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/English/Gallery/static/GroupofSeven15082001_page1.html
Group of Seven Videos - http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/visual_arts/topics/754/
Lawren Harris - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawren_Harris

Tuesday Week 7: Photography

Beauty themes shot.

Tuesday Week 8: Photography

Beauty Themes Film developed and Contact Sheets prepared.

Wednesday Weeks 7 & 8: Sculpting

New models created and photographed:


Models 1 and 2


Models 3 and 4


Models 5 and 6

Friday – Weeks 7 & 8: Printmaking

Lithography and Linoblocks

Continuing the cutting of the linoblock based on the photograph shown above


I completed the litho portrait again and the first and second etch are done – ready for printing. The paper is torn. My second drawing hasn’t quite captured the original charm as is too often the case when one tries to redo a drawing. I’m eager to see how it turns out in the printing.

Images not taken by me are found at http://images.google.ca/

Art Centre - October 5-16, 2009

Central Technical School Art Centre:
Year Three: Weeks Five and 6
October 5-16, 2009

Monday Week 5: Art History (Week 6: Thanksgiving)

Neo-Impressionism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-impressionism
Georges-Pierre Seurat - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Seurat
Anna Boch - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Boch

Impressionism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressionism
Claude Monet - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Monet
Pierre-Auguste Renoir - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Auguste_Renoir
Edgar Degas - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas
Berthe Morisot - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthe_Morisot
Mary Cassat - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cassat

Post Impressionism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Impressionism
Paul Cezanne - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Cézanne
Vincent van Gogh - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh
Henri de Tolouse-Lautrec - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolouse_Lautrec

Tuesday Weeks 5 & 6: Photography

Shooting sculptures – 10 shots with 3 lenses and various f-stops – film or digital
Beauty Assignment – Black and White – shooting 35 mm film (continuing to clarify what shots I will be taking)
Shot the pictures of my sculpting models in the studio.

Wednesday Weeks 5 & 6: Sculpting

Constructivist Abstract Models according to formula – my formula is a flat isosceles triangle intersected at two points by a curved line. I created a photographic report to hand in and I exhibited my models.

Alas – missing in the instructions (at least for me and for a number of my classmates) was the constraint that not only did we have to use the formula (flat isosceles triangle intersected at two points by a curved line) BUT – the isosceles triangle and the curved line need to be exactly the same size and material in each model – so I went back to the hardware store for more supplies!
Meanwhile – here are the lovely models I created in the interim.


Models 1 and 2


Models 3 and 4

Model 5

Model 5 – another view


Model 6 – two views (Merry Christmas!)

Friday – Weeks 5 & 6 Printmaking

Lithography and Linoblocks

I revised the linoblocks for the first two prints in the Greek Family Series and have started the third one (based on the photograph shown above).



I’ve been etching my stone: a lithograph portrait of Thanassi. I completed the drawing on the stone today and the first chemical treatment was done by my teacher. Somehow some substance got splashed across the portrait and it was ruined and now has to be redone. I’m hoping I can somehow capture the charm and spirit of my favourite Greek once again.

I’m also preparing plexiglass plates for a future series in the Greek Storybook.

Images not taken by me are found at http://images.google.ca/

Art Centre - September 28 - October 2, 2009

Central Technical School Art Centre:
Year Three: Week Four
September 28-October 2, 2009

Monday: Art History

Ingres

Neo-Classicism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassicism
David - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques-Louis_David
Ingres - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingres

Goya

Romanticism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism
Goya - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goya
Turner - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.M.W._Turner

Courbet

Realism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(arts)
Courbet - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Courbet
Millet - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-François_Millet

Tuesday: Photography

In class we worked on the assignment about beauty. Each of us discussed 10 images that communicate beauty with the teacher one-to-one.

What is beauty? http://www.philosophytalk.org/pastShows/WhatisBeauty.htm
What is beautiful? http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/what-is-beautiful/

Wednesday: Sculpting

There was a show and tell of each of the five models assigned for abstract constructivist sculpture. Here are two views each of my five models.


Flat planes

Straight line and flat planes

Curved line and flat plane

Curved planes

Curved line and curved plane

The next step is to choose one and build five models on that recipe. I chose curved line and flat plane – my curved line penetrates the flat plane (an isosceles triangle) at two points.

Friday – Printmaking

I began the first etch on my litho stone. We were shown the methods of treating the drawing with chemicals in two stages.

Video of the lithography process - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHw5_1Hopsc

Video on lithography fine art printing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQQXyFIgENc&feature=fvw

Images not taken by me are found at http://images.google.ca/

Art Centre - September 21-25, 2009

Central Technical School Art Centre:
Year Three: Week Three
September 21-25, 2009

Monday: Art History

Morning Star III was one of the many watercolour paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe done in the early 1900’s. I continue my research on O’Keeffe.

Year Three Exhibition Plans

On Monday class time was also spent in first discussions regarding our third year class exhibition at the end of the school year. This show is held off campus and the group present likes the idea of having the exhibition at 401 Richmond during the last two weeks of May. The Art Centre’s Open House and Exhibition is the first weekend in June and our class does much of the work of putting this show up as well. A number of our classmates are on a field trip to New York state and New York City so we will discuss this with them on their return.
http://www.401richmond.net/

Tuesday: Photography

In photography class, we received more instructions regarding pictures we are to take of a local sculpture with various F stops and lens. We examined the workings on the Nikon digital camera – the semi-pro D70 and D 80 and the amateur D60 and D5000. I spent time with the D70 and if I had a stash of cash I’d be very tempted to buy one with the appropriate lens. (wide angle, telephoto, and macro)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D70
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D80
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D60
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D5000

Wednesday: Sculpting

Vladimir Tatlin, Model for the 3rd International Tower, 1919-1920 (never built)

I continued working on the five models using foam-core and other bits and pieces to construct our models. 1 is all planes, 2 is with planes and a straight line 3 is planes and a curved line 4 is a curved plane with a straight line, 5 is a curved plane with a curved line. The models are self-supporting with no base with components integral to the design.

Article on constructivism in sculpture - http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HTZ/is_5_130/ai_81219618/

Vladimir Tatlin – most important sculptor of the constructivist movement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Tatlin

Constructivism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism_(art)

Friday – Printmaking

I worked on the second of three linocuts of my Greek mother-in-law. I also wrote the proposal for my printmaking projects. Not least – I prepared a plate for etching.

Field trip to New York state and New York City

Here is the itinerary for the trip taken this week. Chaperones were the sculpting teacher and the printmaking teacher. Participating were adult students from all three years of the Art Centre program and grades 9-12 high school students who attend the Art Centre.

Donald Kendall (Pepsico) Sculpture Gardens - http://www.sirpepsi.com/pepsi1.htm

Guggenheim Museum - http://www.guggenheim.org/

Chelsea Art District - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea,_Manhattan

Noguchi Garden Museum - http://www.noguchi.org/

Socrates Sculpture Park - http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

Brooklyn Museum - http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/

New Museum - http://www.newmuseum.org/

Hudson River Art Tour - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River_School
http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/arttours.html#hudson

Dia:Beacon - http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/beacon

Storm King Art Centre - http://www.stormking.org/

Metropolitan Museum of Art - http://www.metmuseum.org/

Whitney Museum of American Art - http://whitney.org/index.php

Museum of Modern Art - http://www.moma.org/

Upper Manhatten commercial galleries - http://officialsite.com/index.asp?regionid=30&categoryid=4

Images not taken by me are found at http://images.google.ca

Art Centre - September 8 - 18, 2009

Central Technical School Art Centre:
Year Three: Weeks One and Two
September 8-18, 2009

Monday: Art History

The first week of school started on a Tuesday so we’ve only had one art history class these two weeks. We’ve been given an overview of the course and our main project will be to report on and present a work of art (preferably a painting) by a contemporary artist. My first impulse was to go with one of the Symbolists, Puvis de Chavannes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Puvis_de_Chavannes) or Odilon Redon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odilon_Redon). Then I realized it was a great opportunity to study one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s works in depth. I’ve got a large print of one of her abstract paintings hanging at the foot of my bed.



I’ve also got three books about her and for years I’ve maintained a list of sites about her - http://astralsite.com/georgia/

When I was applying for admission to the Art Centre program I created a little slide show with some of my favourite artists – so it makes sense that I would focus on one of those! http://astralsite.com/Art/Artists/

We viewed a slide show in class giving an overview of art from the 13th century to the current century.

Tuesday: Photography

It seems I’ll have an opportunity to focus on another favourite artist in this class – we’ll be selecting a contemporary photographer to profile and present and my first choice is Annie Leibovitz!
Annie Liebovitz Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Leibovitz Corcoran Gallery Exhibition – http://www.corcoran.org/exhibitions/previous_results.asp?Exhib_ID=190 Monarchy: Annie Liebowitz (2007) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcnPicsZ6-A PBS: American Masters Series – http://www.pbs.org/previews/am-leibovitz/

In photography class, one of our first activities this year is to learn how to use the digital camera and interchangeable lens to understand wide angle and telephoto lens. We also will be using metering to get the best light resolutions in our images. Because we have been asked to find a sculpture with human scale (and shoot it with 8 different settings), I have been deciding where to go to shoot. Check this site – Toronto sculptures! http://www.dittwald.com/torontosculpture/

Wednesday: Sculpting

“Changing Form” Doris Chase, 1923-2008

In sculpting class we are concentrating on constructivism and abstract works. Our first task is to create five models and from these to select one that will become a larger scale assemblage. We are using foam-core and other bits and pieces to construct our models. 1 is all planes, 2 is with planes and a straight line 3 is planes and a curved line 4 is a curved plane with a straight line, 5 is a curved plane with a curved line. We’ll choose one of the models and make a series with this design. The models must be self-supporting with no base. All components need to be integral to the design – no parts are decorative.

In class we were treated to three carousels of slides of sculptures to identify works that fall into the category of contemporary non-objective totally abstract constructivist sculptures.

Modern Sculpture definitions - http://www.damonart.com/artist-definitions.html
Abstract Sculpture - http://www.damonart.com/index.html

Friday – Printmaking

a lithograph

We have three projects for printmaking and the first for me is lithography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithography) so I’ve picked out a stone and I’m grinding it in preparation for my rendering. It is a long involved process and happily we are working in pairs to help each other through the experience. I plan to do a portrait of my favourite Greek on my stone.

For my other two projects, I plan to start on the five series of prints (three in a series) on the theme of life in Greece. Ultimately I want to combine all five into an illustrated book (in Greek and English) that will be published as one of my Photography projects using In Design. Three of the series will be done as my independent work this school year.

I’m a Hellenophile (a hellenophile - one who likes all things hellenic and treasures Hellas, which is what the Greeks call Greece.) – here is my Greek page - http://astralsite.com/learn/greek.html
Also I’m refreshing my knowledge of the language with a Greek course online at http://livemocha.com/

I’ve also signed up for Advanced Printmaking one evening a week to have more time working on the printmaking projects I have planned. Here’s my schedule this fall… http://astralsite.com/Schedule-Fall2009.html

Images found at http://images.google.ca